New discoveries shed light on Romans in northern England

From Roman shoes and keys, to a rare amber figurine and the most northerly example of coin production ever found in Europe, Archaeologists have recently discovered a range of Roman objects through a major road improvement scheme in North Yorkshire.

Archaeologists excavating Roman revetments, built to protect the river shore from erosion. This excavation was carried 
out in 2014, East of A1 on the south side of the River Swale near Catterick [Credit: Dr Jonathan Shipley]

Discovered as part of the £380 million Highways England Leeming to Barton scheme to upgrade the existing dual carriageway with a new three lane motorway, the finds are shedding new light on Roman life in Northern England.

They hint at a far more sophisticated industrial and administrative centre in Yorkshire than had previously been known about. They also point to wealthy citizens having lived in the area.

The extensive excavations have been carried out by Northern Archaeological Associates, on the advice of Historic England’s experts.

Top recent discoveries:

1. Amber carving: The figure of a toga-clad actor carved from a block of amber was recently found at Scotch Corner. Thought to have been made in Italy during the 1st century AD, a similar example was also found at Pompeii. Nothing like this has ever before been found in the UK.

The figure of a toga-clad actor carved from a block of amber which was recently found at Scotch Corner. 
Nothing like this has ever before been found in the UK [Credit: Northern Archaeological Associates]

Its presence at Scotch Corner, along with a large number of other high status imported items suggests this was an early site furnished with the finest Roman goods.

2. Coin Workshops: Workshops for making gold, silver and copper coins found near Scotch Corner represent the most northerly example of coin production ever found in Europe.

Coin moulds [Credit: Northern Archaeological Associates]

They demonstrate that the Romans were carrying out significant industrial activity in this part of England and potentially producing coins of high value.

3. Roman shoes: A number of well-preserved Roman leather shoes have been found in Catterick, a town south of Scotch Corner known by the Romans as Cataractonium.

A Roman leather shoe which is one of many found in Catterick [Credit: Northern Archaeological Associates]

Large sheets of leather have also been found in the town, perhaps used for producing clothes, indicating that the town was an important leatherworking centre possibly supporting the Roman military.

4. Roman keys: Many keys have been found at Catterick, from small keys on rings to larger ones for lifting latches.

One of the many keys found in Catterick, North Yorkshire [Credit: Northern Archaeological Associates]

The amount found is unusual for a northern suburb, suggesting people who lived in the town were conscious of protecting their valuable possessions.

5. Silver ring: A silver ring shaped like a snake which wraps around the finger has also been found in Catterick.

A silver ring shaped like a snake which was found in Catterick [Credit: Northern Archaeological Associates]

This is a rare find and like the amber figure, it hints at the great wealth of the people who lived here.

6. Pen and inkpot: A pewter inkpot and a number of styli, Roman pens, have also been discovered at Catterick, telling us that the town was a key administrative centre.

A pewter inkpot and many styli, the Roman pens, revealed the most people of Cataractonium 
were able to read and write [Credit: Northern Archaeological Associates]

The sheer amount of pens found suggests that a significant proportion of the population were able to read and write.

7. Lead plumb bob: A lead plumb bob from Cataractonium gives us evidence for construction methods used within the town and was perhaps even used in the construction of Dere Street and other roman roads at the site, giving us a fantastic insight into the engineering technologies of the time.

Earlier date for Romans in Northern England

The excavations have also led to the unearthing of a major Roman settlement at Scotch Corner which pre-dates settlements in York and Carlisle by 10 years, telling us that the Romans had a major presence and even possibly began their territorial expansion into northern England a decade earlier than previously thought.

Archaeologists excavate a section of the Roman road [Credit: Dr Jonathan Shipley]

The settlement was unusually large for the north of England, stretching over 1.4km from north to south which is roughly the size of 13 football pitches positioned end to end.

The finds uncovered at the site, from brooches to gaming counters, suggest the people who lived here, as at Catterick, were wealthy.

The settlement seems to have only been occupied for a short period, perhaps no more than 20-30 years.

It probably became redundant as the Romans kept moving into the north and its demise seems to coincide with the rise of Catterick which we know was an administrative and economic centre in the north of England.

Neil Redfern, Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments at Historic England said: “The sheer amount of exceptional objects found on this road scheme has been extraordinary. Through them we are learning more and more about life here in the Roman period. This project has given us a unique opportunity to understand how the Romans conducted their military expansion into Northern England and how civil life changed under their control.”

Archaeologists excavate a section of the Roman road [Credit: Historic England]

Highways England project manager, Tom Howard said: “Throughout this project we have been working alongside archaeologists as we make this major improvement to one of the UK’s most historic roads. It is fascinating to discover that nearly 2,000 years ago the Romans were using the A1 route as a major road of strategic importance and using the very latest technological innovations from that period to construct the original road – the very same thing that Highways England is doing today.”

Investigating and upgrading the A1

Works to upgrade the A1 through Yorkshire over the last 20 years have resulted in more than 60 miles of the road being investigated by archaeologists, from Ferrybridge near Leeds up to Piercebridge.

Since these excavations began in 2014, a team of around 60 archaeologists have discovered thousands of artefacts from a range of different periods, demonstrating that this area has been part of England’s story for thousands of years.

Source: Historic England [April 08, 2017]